Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
A 30-storey luxury hotel on the Nile Corniche in Garden City, with river-view rooms, a spa, a pool and ten restaurants and bars.
Marriott Mena House
A historic five-star hotel at the foot of the Giza pyramids, built around a 19th-century khedivial hunting lodge and set in large gardens.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic luxury hotel
- Area
- Giza, Cairo, Egypt
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Hotel class
- 5-star
- Official site
- marriott.com
Good to know
- Pyramid views
- Outdoor pool
- Saray Spa
- 24-hour fitness centre
- Seven restaurants
Why we recommend it
The Marriott Mena House stands at the edge of the Giza plateau, so close to the Great Pyramid that it fills the view from many rooms and terraces. The original building was a two-storey hunting lodge built in 1869 for Khedive Ismail, and it was opened as a hotel in the 1880s by an English couple, the Locke Kings. Since then the guest list has included Arthur Conan Doyle, Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie, Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra, and in 1977 it hosted the Mena House Conference between Egypt and Israel.
The hotel combines the historic palace wing, with its carved wood, mashrabiya and tiled interiors, and a larger garden wing added in the 1970s. Rooms vary in size and outlook, and those with direct pyramid views are the most sought after, so it is worth requesting one when you book. Facilities include an outdoor pool set in the gardens with the pyramids behind it, the Saray Spa with whirlpool, a 24-hour fitness centre and meeting rooms. There are seven restaurants and bars, among them the 139 Pavilion terrace, which is open around the clock, and the Indian Moghul Room.
The Mena House suits couples, families and anyone whose priority is the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is a short drive away. It is a particularly good base for an early start on the plateau, before the heat and the crowds. The trade-off is distance from central Cairo: Downtown, Zamalek and Islamic Cairo are around 45 minutes to an hour away by car depending on traffic, so evenings in the centre need planning.
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 12:00. The Saturday brunch by the pyramids, held between 13:00 and 16:00 with live cooking stations and music, is popular with non-residents as well as guests. Booking direct through Marriott gives access to loyalty benefits, and rates vary considerably between the summer and the cooler, busier months from October to April.
The hotel is at the end of Pyramids Road, beside the entrance to the Giza plateau, and Sphinx International Airport is closer than Cairo International Airport, which helps on some routes. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are easy to arrange from the front door. Khufu's restaurant inside the archaeological site is a short ride away for a memorable lunch.
Marriott Mena House FAQs
Can you see the pyramids from the hotel?
Yes. Many rooms, the pool and the terraces face the Great Pyramid, so request a pyramid-view room when booking.
What star rating does the hotel have?
It is a five-star hotel.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is by 12:00.
Is there a pool?
Yes, an outdoor pool in the gardens, plus a spa and fitness centre.
How far is it from central Cairo?
Around 45 minutes to an hour by car, depending on traffic.
Is it near the Grand Egyptian Museum?
Yes, the GEM is a short drive away.
What is the history of the hotel?
It began as a hunting lodge for Khedive Ismail in 1869 and became a hotel in the 1880s.